Swing Phi Swing | |
---|---|
SΦS | |
Founded | April 4, 1969; 55 years ago (1969-04-04) Winston-Salem State University |
Type | Social Fellowship |
Affiliation | Independent |
Status | Active |
Emphasis | African American |
Scope | National |
Motto | "Perseverance by Virtue" |
Colors | White and Black |
Chapters | 36 active |
Members | 10,000 active |
Nickname | Swings |
Headquarters | P.O. Box 1124 Dearborn, Michigan 48121 United States |
Website | www.swingphiswing.org |
Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship, Inc. (SΦS) is an African American non-profit social fellowship for female students, as opposed to a traditional Greek-lettered sorority. It was founded in 1969 at Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It has more than fifty undergraduate and graduate chapters across the United States, mostly affiliated with historical Black colleges and universities.
History
Swing Phi Swing was founded at Winston Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on April 4, 1969, the first anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Its founders were twelve African-American women, helped by the brothers of Groove Phi Groove.
The twelve founders were:
- Jeanette Butler
- Anita Chase (Watson)
- Beverly Dorn (Steele)
- Finesia Dunovant (Walker)
- Jane Harris (Madison)
- Rosiland Marshall (Tandy)
- Marilyn Reid (Hill)
- Patricia Story (Edwards)
- Ellen Tomlinson (Carter)
- Brenda Travers (Satterfield)
- Lorraine Watkins (Phillips)
- Talma Woods (Brayboy)
The founders wanted to challenge the traditional Black Greek-lettered organizations by creating a fellowship of women committed to community service, promoting and achieving academic excellence, and strengthening community involvement and engagement through culturally conscious events and activities. Thus, their group was an alternative to sororities and actively criticized the missions and programming of Black Greek letter organizations. Swing Phi Swing was incorporated in North Carolina in February 1971.
During the 1970s, Swing Phi Swing's membership grew as Black college women across the South, the Midwest and the East Coast heard of an afro-centric organization; the organization and its members were more political and were "invested in Afrocentricity and Black Power". IChapters were started at prominent historically Black colleges and universities such as Hampton University (Hampton Institute), Morgan State University, Tuskegee University, Wilberforce University, Shaw University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Swing Phi Swing grew so quickly that it was difficult to keep up with processing new memberships. In 1982, the society decided to discontinue intact of undergraduate members so that it could focus on establishing the group at the national level. In addition, the new collegiate members were close in age to the founders and "did not show deference to their elders". In the spring 1992, new members were admitted at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pennsylvania, marking the return of undergraduate chapters. By the end of 1999, Swing Phi Swing had 5,000 members. nationwide. In 2008, it had 20,000 members.
On April 4, 2019, Swing Phi Swing celebrated their 50th anniversary in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Ten of the surviving founders attended the convention and were present to dedicate a momunent to the organization on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. Swing Phi Swing also made a $25,000 donation to the university for a scholarship fund.
Swing has chartered over fifty graduate and undergraduate chapters throughout the United States. As of 2016, it has over 10,000 members. It is the sister organization of Groove Phi Grove.
Symbols
Swing Phi Swing is an acronym for Sisters With Interest Never Gone (Swing), Promoting Higher Intelligence (Phi), and Supporting Women In Need of Growth (Swing).
Swing Phi Swing's motto is "Perseverance by Virtue". Its colors are white and black. Its members are called the Swings.
Activities
Swing Phi Swing is focused on community service. Its national initiatives include African American health, Global Outreach & Optimism in the Diaspora, mentoring, and Supplies for Success which provides resources to students and teachers.
Governance
The National Organization of Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship is managed and operated by a Board of Directors and Executive Officers, consisting of a national president, vice president, graduate affairs officer, undergraduate affairs officer, historian, media affairs and public relations, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, parliamentarian, and undergraduate representation. Its national office is located in Dearborn, Michigan.
Chapters
Undergraduate chapters
Following are the undergraduate chapters of Swing Phi Swing, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics.
Graduate chapters
Following are the graduate chapters of Swing Phi Swing, with active chapters indicated in bold and inactive chapters in italics.
Chapter | Charter date and range | Location | Status | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ajeya | Central New Jersey | Active | ||
Anan Tendaji | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Active | ||
Ashanti Zuri | Atlanta, Georgia | Inactive | ||
Atlanta | 1983 | Atlanta, Georgia | Active | |
Boston | Boston, Massachusetts | Inactive | ||
Central Carolina | Durham, North Carolina | Active | ||
Raleigh, North Carolina | ||||
Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | Active | ||
Dada Rafiki Tri-County | Pennsylvania | Active | ||
DC Metro | Washington, D.C. | Active | ||
Detroit | Detroit, Michigan | Active | ||
DFW | Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas | Inactive | ||
Garden State | Northern New Jersey | Active | ||
Greater New York & Connecticut | Connecticut | Active | ||
New York | ||||
Hampton Roads | Hampton Roads, Virginia | Inactive | ||
Haraambe Nssa | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Active | ||
Houston | Houston, Texas | Active | ||
Imani Kuumba | March 5, 2011 | New Jersey | Active | |
Kemet PA | Pennsylvania | Active | ||
Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California | Active | ||
Mid South | Memphis, Tennessee | Inactive | ||
New Jersey Zuri Obinrin Abike Aye' | New Jersey | Active | ||
Nia Maryland | Baltimore, Maryland | Active | ||
Niara Atanipenda | Greensboro, North Carolina | Active | ||
High Point, North Carolina | ||||
Okimma Delaware | Delaware | Active | ||
Paidamoyo Potomac | Maryland | Active | ||
Virginia | ||||
Washington, D.C. | ||||
Palmetto | Charleston, South Carolina | Active | ||
Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Active | ||
Portland | Portland, Oregon | Active | ||
Raleigh | Raleigh, North Carolina | Active | ||
Richmond | Richmond, Virginia | Inactive | ||
Rukiya Busara Piedmont Triad | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Active | ||
Sankofa | Las Vegas, Nevada | Active | ||
SC Nkiruka | South Carolina | Active | ||
Siku Mpya Sunshine State | Florida | Active | ||
Tri-State | Connecticut | Active | ||
New Jersey | ||||
New York |
Notes
- Imani means "faith" and Kuumba means "Creativity".
References
- ^ "Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship Incorporated". Groove Phi Groove Social Fellowship Incorporated. 2016-01-23. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Chandler, D. L. (2016-04-04). "Little Known Black History Fact: Swing Phi Swing". Black America Web. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- Kimbrough, Walter M. (2023-09-12). Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Soroities. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-4930-8198-1 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Herstory". Swing Phi Swing SFI. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Russell-Meadows, Tammy; Phillips-Hunter, Audrey (2001-01-02). "Women SWING into Fellowship". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Carey, Miya; Fuentes, Marisa J.; White, Deborah Gray (2021-05-20). Scarlet and Black, Volume Three: Making Black Lives Matter at Rutgers, 1945-2020. Rutgers University Press. ISBN 978-1-9788-2733-2.
- "Incorporations". Winston-Salem Journal. 1971-02-28. p. 60. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Parks, Gregory S. (2008-06-13). Black Greek-letter Organizations in the Twenty-First Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 221–222. ISBN 978-0-8131-7295-8 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Chapters". Swing Phi Swing SFI. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ "National History". Atlanta Graduate Chapter Swing Phi Swing. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Hankins, La Toya (1999-11-18). "Social Fellowship in Swing". The Charlotte Post. p. 22. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Swing Phi Swing Celebrates 50 Years". WFMY News 2. 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Davis, Jay (April 1, 2019). "Sisterhood: Swing Phi Swing celebrates 50 years at WSSU". Winston-Salem State University. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Drabble, Jenny (2019-03-29). "12 founders of Swing Phi Swing return to organization's birthplace, Winston-Salem State, for monument unveiling". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- Love, Brea (2019-03-26). "WSSU celebrates 50 years of Swing Phi Swing". WXII. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- Floyd, Chelsea (March 30, 2019). "WSSU's Swing Phi Swing Celebrates 50th Anniversary". Spectrum News 1. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Raczek, Weronika (April 21, 2016). "Meet Groove Phi Groove, Swing Phi Swing: Mercy's Newest Organizations". The Impact. Mercy College. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- "About Us". Swing Phi Swing SFI. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ "Herstory". Imani Kuumba NJ Grad. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- Kimbrough, Walter M. (2023-09-12). Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Soroities. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 193. ISBN 978-1-4930-8198-1 – via Newspapers.com.
- "National Initiatives". Swing Phi Swing SFI. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- ^ Friedman, Alexi (2006-08-24). "Kids Get the Essentials for Schools". The Star-Ledger. Newark, New Jersey. pp. 35, 36. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via Newspaers.com.
- "Board of Directors". Swing Phi Swing SFI. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- "Executive Officers". Swing Phi Swing SFI. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- "Contact". Swing Phi Swing SFI. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- Ross, Vivian (1972-01-26). "Students 'Involved' by Soliciting Funds". The Charlotte Observer. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via Newspapers.com.
- "So What If It's Not Exactly Greek". The Charlotte Observer. 1973-05-20. p. 65. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "About Us". Atlanta Graduate Chapter Swing Phi Swing. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- "UMES Appoints Rivera as Greek Life Coordinator". The Daily Times. Salisbury, Maryland. 2014-08-31. pp. A10. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Swing Phi Swing Social Fellowship Incorporated". Morgan State University. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- "Swing Phi Swing S.F.I Informational - February 10, 2022 @ 6:00pm - 7:00pm". Adelphi University. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- Thompson, Vernon C. (November 16, 1978). "Howard's Greek Clubs Offer Social Life to Commuter Students". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- Prairie View A&M University. (1976). Coronation of Miss Prairie View November 4, 1976. Retrieved from Prairie VIew A&M University Digital Commons.
- "School". Rocky Mount Telegram. 2008-08-09. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Sophia Feaster Crowned 'Miss Ebony Pearl'". The Charlotte Post. 1982-12-16. p. 13. Retrieved 2024-12-12 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Mission Statement". Imani Kuumba NJ Grad. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- "Welcome to Swing Phi Swing-LA Grad Chapter's Fundraising Page". Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Light the Night. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- "Welcome to Portland Graduate Chapter Of SWING PHI SWING Social Fellowship Incorporated's Fundraising Page". Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Light the Night. Retrieved 2024-12-12.